Texas Gulf Coast Fishing

Smooth Hammerhead Shark

SMOOTH HAMMERHEAD SHARK Sphyrna zygaena

The Smooth Hammerhead Shark is a species of hammerhead shark, so named because of the distinctive shape of the head, which is
flattened and laterally extended into a hammer shape (called the "cephalofoil"), without an indentation in the middle of the front
margin (hence "smooth"). Unlike other hammerheads, this species prefers temperate waters and occurs worldwide at medium latitudes.
In the summer, these sharks migrate towards the poles following cool water masses, sometimes forming schools numbering in the hundreds
to thousands.

The second-largest hammerhead shark, the smooth hammerhead can measure up to 16 ft long. It is an active predator that takes
a wide variety of bony fishes and invertebrates, with larger individuals also feeding on sharks and rays. As in the rest of its family,
this shark is viviparous and gives birth to litters of 20–40 pups. A relatively common shark, it is captured, intentionally or otherwise,
by many commercial fisheries throughout its range; its fins are extremely valuable for use in shark fin soup. This shark is potentially
dangerous and has likely been responsible for a few attacks on humans, though it is less likely to encounter swimmers than other large
hammerhead species due to its temperate habitat.

Description: The second-largest hammerhead next to
the great hammerhead, the smooth hammerhead typically measures 8–11 ft.
long, with a maximum recorded length and weight of 16 ft. and 880 lbs.
respectively. The smooth hammerhead differs from other large hammerheads
in the shape of its cephalofoil, which has a curved front margin without
an indentation in the center. The cephalofoil is wide but short,
measuring 26–29% of the body length across. The nostrils are located
near the ends of the cephalofoil, with long grooves running towards the
center. The body is streamlined, without a dorsal ridge between the two
dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin is moderately tall and falcate
(sickle-like) in shape, with a rounded tip. The pectoral and pelvic fins
are not falcate, rather having nearly straight rear margins. The anal
fin is larger than the second dorsal fin, with long free rear tip and a
strong notch in the rear margin. The back is dark brownish gray to olive
in color, in contrast to the simple brown of most other hammerheads,
becoming lighter on the flanks. The belly is white, and sometimes the
pectoral fins have dark edges underneath.